Percepción de salud en adultos mayores de la provincia Matanzas / Health perception in elderly persons from the Matanzas province

Introducción: el estudio de la calidad de vida global y de sus dimensiones es de gran utilidad en los adultos mayores, en tanto constituye un trazador cualitativo de la salud en este segmento poblacional, aquejado con frecuencia de discapacidades que limitan su desempeño social. Objetivos: identificar la percepción de la dimensión salud por parte los adultos mayores de la provincia de Matanzas, y su relación con variables seleccionadas, durante el primer semestre de 2007...

Introduction: the study of the global quality of life and of its dimensions is very useful in elderly persons since it is qualitative health marker in this population segment suffering frequently of inabilities limiting its social performance. Objectives: to identify the perception of health dimension by elderly persons from the Matanzas province and its relation to the variables selected during the first semester of 2007. Methods: a cross-sectional and descriptive study was conducted in 108 559 elderly persons selecting a sample including 714 by formula of sample size calculus for descriptive studies using multistage stratified sampling. To information collection the Minimal Examination of Mental Status and the Perceived Quality of Life Assessment were applied. Absolute and percentages frequencies were estimated applying the homogeneity test and other like Ridit Analysis and X² for regression. Processing was carried out with SPSS version 11,5 and Epidat 3,1. Results are showed in statistical charts. Results: there was predominance of high category in health dimension with values of 91,7 percent, although just as an increase in age there is a decrease of high health perception (p= 0,000). The high health perception is more marked in elderly persons with a couple, with a 95,5 percent than those without couple (88,2 percent) (p= 0,000). In spite of the fact that for all the categories of schooling variable predominated the high health perception, there is a trend to its increase according to increases the schooling level. Conclusions: the high health perception declared by study population, it is expressed in a homogenous way by sexes, but like heterogeneous by age groups, marital condition and schooling level evidencing the significant relation between these latter and the study dimension

Calidad de vida percibida en adultos mayores de la provincia de Matanzas / Quality of life perceived in elderlies from Matanzas province

INTRODUCCIÓN: el estudio de la calidad de vida es de gran utilidad en las poblaciones envejecidas, en tanto constituye un trazador cualitativo de la salud en este segmento poblacional, aquejado con frecuencia de discapacidades que limitan su desempeño social. OBJETIVO: describir el comportamiento de la calidad de vida percibida en general, y su relación con variables seleccionadas en adultos mayores de la provincia de Matanzas. MÉTODOS: se realizó un estudio descriptivo de corte transversal, en un universo de 108 559 adultos mayores, de los que se seleccionó una muestra de 741, por muestreo estratificado polietápico. Se aplicaron el Examen Mínimo del Estado Mental y la Escala para la Evaluación de la Calidad de Vida Percibida. Se calcularon frecuencias absolutas y porcentajes, y se aplicó la prueba de homogeneidad y otras específicas como Bartholomew, Ridit Analysis y x² para la regresión. El procesamiento se realizó con SPSS versión 11,5, y Epidat 3,1. Los resultados de presentan en tablas. RESULTADOS: predominio de calidad de vida percibida baja, que constituyó el 43,3 por ciento de la muestra investigada. Hubo diferencias importantes en el comportamiento de la calidad de vida por edad y escolaridad, con tendencia a empeorar en la medida que se incrementa la edad (p=0,000) y disminuye la escolaridad (p=0,000). No hubo diferencias por sexo (p=0,343) ni por estado conyugal (p=0,123). CONCLUSIONES: el predominio de baja calidad de vida en la población investigada evidencia la necesidad de continuar el estudio sobre este constructo, para lo cual resulta de interés su relación con la edad y la escolaridad.

INTRODUCTION: quality of life study is very useful in aging populations, since it is a qualitative marker of health in this segment of population, frequently affected by disabling events limiting its social performance. OBJECTIVE: to describe quality of life behavior in general, and its relation with selected variables in elderlies from Matanzas province. METHODS: a cross-sectional and descriptive study was made in a cohort of 108 559 elderlies, from which we selected a sample of 741 by multistage stratified sampling. We applied the minimum Examination of Mental State and the Scale for Assessment of Perceived Quality of Life. Absolute frequencies and percentages were estimated, and Homogeneity Test was applied as well as another specific including Bartholomew, Ridit Analysis and X² for regression. Processing was performed with the SPSS version 11,5 and Epidat 3.1. Results are presented in tables. RESULTS: there was a predominance of low perceived quality of life being the 43,3 percent of study sample. There were significant differences in quality of life behavior by age and schooling with a trend to deterioration in so far as age increases (p=0,000), and decrease the schooling (p=0,000). There were not differences neither by sex (p= 0,343) nor by marital state (p=0,123). CONCLUSIONS: predominance of a poor quality of life in study population shows the need of to continue the study on this basis, where its relation with age and schooling in interesting.